Family history group to honor notable churches, former mayor

By Sun Journal Staff

Published: Monday, March 11, 2013 at 06:47 PM.

The Family History Society of Eastern North Carolina celebrates its third anniversary Friday with a film on historical New Bern churches and a tribute to the late Ella Jones Bengel, the city’s first woman mayor.

The free event is at 7:30 p.m. in Orringer Auditorium on the New Bern campus of Craven Community College. It is presented by the history society and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society of Craven Community College.

Filmmaker Tony D. Bryant, a native of New Bern, will present his short film “A Living History: The Churches of New Bern.”

It tells the stories and contributions of Christ Episcopal, established in 1715; Saint Cyprian’s Episcopal, established in 1866; First Baptist, established in 1809; and First Missionary Baptist, established in 1869.

Through the use of historical research and personal interviews, the film delves into learning more about these congregations. Those participating in the film include Dorothy Hawkins Bryan, Gwendolyn M. Bryan, Jane Marshall Jenkins, Janet J. Latham, Charles Kennedy McCotter Jr., David C. Skaggs Jr. and Larry Whitney.

Following the film, a panel discussion will include some of the film participants, as well as Mary Jones Peterkin and Howard B. Mathews Jr.

Tony Bryant is a Marine veteran, Phi Theta Kappa alumnus, CravenCommunity College graduate and an East Carolina University student.

The Family History Society of Eastern North Carolina celebrates its third anniversary Friday with a film on historical New Bern churches and a tribute to the late Ella Jones Bengel, the city’s first woman mayor.

The free event is at 7:30 p.m. in Orringer Auditorium on the New Bern campus of Craven Community College. It is presented by the history society and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society of Craven Community College.

Filmmaker Tony D. Bryant, a native of New Bern, will present his short film “A Living History: The Churches of New Bern.”

It tells the stories and contributions of Christ Episcopal, established in 1715; Saint Cyprian’s Episcopal, established in 1866; First Baptist, established in 1809; and First Missionary Baptist, established in 1869.

Through the use of historical research and personal interviews, the film delves into learning more about these congregations. Those participating in the film include Dorothy Hawkins Bryan, Gwendolyn M. Bryan, Jane Marshall Jenkins, Janet J. Latham, Charles Kennedy McCotter Jr., David C. Skaggs Jr. and Larry Whitney.

Following the film, a panel discussion will include some of the film participants, as well as Mary Jones Peterkin and Howard B. Mathews Jr.

Tony Bryant is a Marine veteran, Phi Theta Kappa alumnus, CravenCommunity College graduate and an East Carolina University student.

Also on the program, former Mayor Bengel, who died in 2012, will be remembered. She was one of the founders of the Family History Society of Eastern North Caroilna. Her life will be celebrated with the original “Song of New Bern,” performed by Helen Sims Smaw, composer and lyricist.